Clamshell envelope



July 27, 1965 G, C, SPARKS 3,197,120

GLAMSHELL ENVELOPE Filed May 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /ISG (|30. 13a

INVBNTOR. GEORGE c. SPARKS F IG 4 ATTORNEY July 27, 1965 v G. c. SPARKS 3,197,120

CLAMSHELL ENVELOPE Filed May 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.7

INVENTOR.

GEORGE C. SPARKS "Y MaJ/f. iw@

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,197,120 CLAMSHELL ENVELOPE George C. Sparks, 101 Rorer St., Erdenlreim, Pa. Filed May 14, 1964, Ser. No. 367,382 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-86) This invention relates generally to packaging, and is especially concerned with a unique and highly advantageous container construction.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a container which is extremely simple to manufacture, and wherein manufacture of the container includes the filling or placement of contents in the container, to minimize or eliminate numerous container-handling operations heretofore required.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container of the type described which is extremely simple in construction, affords substantial protection to the contents, provides ample space for advertising and required copy, and which is capable of simple configuration to present a neat and attractive appearance.

Other objects of the present invention reside in the provision of a container having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is conveniently mailable without additional protective covering, and which is adapted to afford quick and easy opening means which is entirely reliable and foolproof in operation.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a blank for a slightly modied container of the present invention; Y

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, partial perspective View shawing a further slightly modified embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7f-7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, a container is there generally designated 10, and includes a pair of substantially identical front and back panels 11 and 12 disposed in generally congruent facing relation and hingedly connected together along the lower edge by a fold line 13. The panels 11 and 12 may be integrally formed of suitable stiff, bendable material, such as paperboard, or the like, being integrally connected by the lower-edge crease or fold 13. In particular, the front panel 11 may be of generally rectangular configuration having side edges 15 and 16 extending in substantial parallelism from opposite ends of fold line 13, substantially normal to the latter and terminating at an upper edge 17 extending laterally between the side edges and substantially parallel to the lower fold. Further, one side edge 16 may be formed with an indentation or notch 18, generally V shaped, and located adjacent to and spaced from the upper edge 17.

-provided adhesive securing means.

The back panel 12 may be essentially similar to the front panel 11, including a pair of generally parallel side edges 18 and 19 extending upward from opposite ends of the fold line 13, substantially normal thereto. An upper edge 20 may extend between the upper ends of side edges 18 and 19 in substantial parallelism with the lower fold 13. The edges 1S, 16 and 17 may be substantially ush with respective edges 18, 19 and 20.

On the facing sides of the panels 11 and 12, at least along the edge margins thereof, there is advantageously For this purpose a heat-scalable coating has been found preferable. More particularly, on the inner or facing surface of panel 11, the margin along edge 15 is provided with a heat-sealable coating 22, while the margin along edge 17 is provided with a heat-sealable coating 23, and the margin along edge 16 is provided with a heat-sealable coating 24. Similarly, the facing surface of panel 12 on the margin along edge 18 is provided with a heat-scalable coating 25, while the margin along edge 20 is provided with a heat-sealable coating 26, and the margin along edge 19 is provided with a heat-scalable coating 27. The heatscalable marginal coatings 22, 23 and 24 are therefore in respective facing relation with the heat-sealable marginal coatings 25, 26 and 27, all for a purpose appearing presently.

One of the panels, the panel 11 in the illustrated embodiment, may be formed With a line of weakening, as at 30 defined by perforations, scores or the like. The line of weakening 30 preferably extends entirely across the panel 11 and may be in alignment with the notch 18, ex-

` tending therefrom entirely across and to the opposite or distal edge of the panel. Thus, the weakening line 30 extends in parallelism with and spaced'between the fold 13 and upper edge 17, being located adjacent to the latterand preferably spaced inward of the marginal heat-sealable coating 23 while crossing the marginal heat-sealable coatings 22 and 24.

In assembly of the container 10 the panels 11 and 12 are folded about the fold line 13 to place the panels in facing relation with the contents to be packaged, as at 29, located between the facing panels. Also, an elongate flexible tensile member 31 is interposedbetween the tween the marginal coatings 24 and 27 proximate to thev i notch 18. v

La this condition, the package or container 10 is sealed by applying heat along the facing heat-sealable marginal coatings to secure the same in their facing engagement. The heat may be applied by a suitably configured die, or

otherwise, if desired. In this condition it will be appre-v ciated that the string portion 32 is adhesively secured or anchored in sandwiched relation between the sealed marginal coatings 22 and 25, While the spaced string portion 33 is similarly adhesively secured or anchored between the sealed marginal coatings 24 and 27. Betweenj the spaced string portions 32 and 33 the string extends closely along the weakened line 30, while externally beyond the string portion 33 there is an extension 34. That is, the extension 34 extends externally from between the panels 11 and 12 past the side edges 16 and 19 and advantageously through the notch or recess 18.

In the illustrated condition of FIGURES 1-3 the con- Patented July 27, 1965 t tainer may be mailed, stored or otherwise conveniently handled, and may carry suitable copy as desired. Further, when it is desired to open the container 10 one need only grasp the extension 34 of tensile member 30 and exert slight pull. The thus-pulled extension 34 initiates severance of the panel 11 at the notch 1S, and continued pulling serves to draw the tensile member or string 31 outward through the weakened line 30 to eect localized severance thereof. During this pulling action, the string'Y -end 32 remains anchored between the sealed marginal panel edges to insure complete severance along-the entire the fold 13a generally normal thereto, as well as an edge 17a extending generally parallel to fold 13a between the edges a Vand 16a. In spaced parallelism between the fold 13u and edge 17a there is formed a line of weakening 30a, while a notch 18a may extend inward from the edge 16a in alignment with and to the weakened linev The panel 12a is similarly bounded by a pair of side edges 18a and 19a extending in parallelism with each other from opposite ends of the fold line 13a and in respective alignment with the edges 15a and 16a. Extending between the ends of edges 18a and 19a is an edge 20a generally parallel to the fold 13a.

An entire face of the blank 10a may be coated with heat-sealable material 36, `see FIGURE 5. The blank 10a may be folded about its fold line or crease 13a to swing the panels 11a and 12a into facing relation and the desired contents and a flexible tensile Vmember may be suitably interposed between the facing panels, as described hereinbefore in connection with FIGURES l-3. The facing edge margins of the panels 11a and 12a may then be adhesively secured together by activation'of the heatscalableY coating 36 in the desired configuration along the edge margins.

It will now therefore be appreciated that the blank 10a of-FIGURES 4 and Y5 may provide a container substantially similar to that of FIGURES 1-3, except that the latter container is provided with heat-sealable coat-l ing only at the facing edge margins, While a container.

formed of the blank 10a employs a heat-sealable coating over an entire face, only the margins Vof which are activated for sealing.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7 there is shown the upper left-hand corner portion of a container 10b including front and back panels 11b and 12b disposed in facing relation with each other. The panels 11b and 12b may have their facing surfaces coated with suitable adhesive material, such as a heat-sealable thermoplastic coating 23h on the panel 11b, and coating 26h on the panel 12b.

f The coatings 23h and 2Gb are thermally sealed together about the margins of panels 11b and 12b, as described hereinbefore. Further, the front panel 11b is formed with a line of weakening 30h, as by suitable perforations, scores or the like.A The weakened line 30h may extend entirely across thepanel 11b, as in the firstdescribed embodiments.

In addition, a flexible tensile member or string 31b is interposed between the panels 11b and 12b, extending entirely thereacross and closely along the weakened line 30h. One end portion 32h of the string 31b is sandwiched between the adhesively secured marginal coatings 221') and 25h, as best seen in FIGURE 7. Further, in accordance with the instant embodiment,V it is desirable under certain circumstances to corrugate or crimp the panels 11b and 12b, as by rolling or otherwise, to provide conforming undulations in the anchored string-end portion 32h. In this way, the anchored string-end portion 32h is more firmly secured between the panels 11b and12b and positive opening of the container is assured upon pulling of the free string end.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the instant invention provides a container which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, filling, dissemination and openmg. Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container construction comprising a sheet of bendable and severable material folded to define a pair of generally congruent facing panels, said panels each having end margins extending from opposite ends of said fold and a side marginy extending between said end margins remote from said fold, heat-sealable material along said margins of said panels, said margins being secured together by adhesion of said heat-sealable material to provide an enclosed space between said panels, an article between said panels spaced within said margins, an elongate tlexible tensile member in said enclosed space, spaced portions of said tensile member being anchored in sandwiched relation between spaced regions of said secured end margins intermediate said fold and side margins, the tensile-member region intermediate said spaced portions being unsecured, and an extension on one end of said tensile member extending externally from between said secured margins, said extension providingV a linger grip for pulling the adjacent anchored portion of said tensile member out of its'anchored relation and severing one of said panels upon continued pulling whilev the other anchored portion remains anchored there being a line of weakening formed in one of said panels extending between said spaced end-margin regions closely adjacent to said tensile member for localizing said severance to said line of weakening. Y Y

2. A container according to claim 1, said one panel being formed with an edge notch aligned with and extending to said line of weakening, said extension extending outwardly through said notch, whereby severance is initiated at said notch and continued along said line of weakening.. j 3. A container according to claim 1, at least one of said panels being crimped in the region adjacent'to the other end of said tensile member, to crimp said tensile member in conformance with the crimped panel portion for firm securement thereto.

References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,364,903 12/44' Howard.

2,996,236 8/61 Barr 229-87 X 3,029,149 4/62 De Long 229-87 X 3,084,793 4/63 Pitman 229-51 X 3,139,231 6/64 Hueschen 229-86 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A SHEET OF BENDABLE AND SEVERABLE MATERIAL FOLDED TO DEFINE A PAIR OF GENERALLY CONGRUENT FACING PANELS, SAID PANELS EACH HAVING END MARGINS EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FOLD AND A SIDE MARGIN EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID END MARGINS REMOTE FROM SAID FOLD, HEAT-SEALABLE MATERIAL ALONG SAID MARGINS OF SAID PANELS, SAID MARGINS BEING SECURED TOGETHER BY ADHESION OF SAID HEAT-SEALABLE MATERIAL TO PROVIDE AN ENCLOSED SPACE BETWEEN SAID PANELS, AN ARTICLE BETWEEN SAID PANELS SPACED WITHIN SAID MARGINS, AN ELONGATE FLEXIBLE TENSILE MEMBER IN SAID ENCLOSED SPACE, SPACED PORTIONS OF SAID TENSILE MEMBER BEING ANCHORED IN SANDWICHED RELATIN BETWEEN SPACED REGIONS OF SAID SECURED END MARGINS INTERMEDIATE SAID FOLD AND SIDE MARGINS, THE TENSILE-MEMBER REGION INTERMEDIATE SAID SPACE PORTIONS BEING UNSECURED, AND AN EXTENSION ON ONE END OF SAID TENSILE MEMBER EXTENDING EXTERNALLY FROM BETWEEN SAID SECURED MARGINS, SAID EXTENSION PROVIDING A FINGER GRIP FOR PULLING THE ADJACENT ANCHORED PORTION OF SAID TENSILE MEMBER OUT OF ITS ANCHORED RELATION AND SEVERING ONE OF SAID PANELS UPON CONTINUED PULLING WHILE THE OTHER ANCHORED PORTION REMAINS ANCHORED THERE BEING A LINE OF WEAKENING FORMED IN ONE OF SAID PANELS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SPACED END-MARGIN REGIONS CLOSELY ADJACENT TO SAID TENSILE MEMBER FOR LOCALIZING SAID SEVERANCE TO SAID LINE OF WEAKENING. 